Colorado leaders launched eight new greenspace projects aimed at drawing more people to rivers and creeks, awarding nearly $30 million in state lottery grants. Five are in Front Range urban areas. Three are in urbanizing mountain areas. All rely on the lure of water for play, walking, kayaking, biking and fishing.

But water diversions and drought have diminished flows in the South Platte and other rivers to near-record lows, and water quality problems loom — from E. coli to toxic pollution.

Gov. John Hickenlooper and Mayor Michael Hancock announced the grants Tuesday at the confluence of the South Platte and Cherry Creek. As they spoke, the river flow was measured about 20 percent of average for this time of year. In Fort Collins, the Cache la Poudre was running at 3 percent of its historical average.

The eight river and creek projects picked by the GOCO board for grants are among 42 projects around the state that were awarded a total of $37.3 million from state lottery proceeds. GOCO officials, through a river corridors initiative, are trying to establish 3,000 acres of new public-access open space along creeks and rivers. Since 1994, about 3,500 projects in all 64 counties have received lottery open space grants.

Denver Water and other utilities play a key role in determining how much water remains in rivers, because they use them as delivery systems for municipal and industrial water supplies.

Some providers are exploring how a proposed expansion of Chatfield Reservoir and cooperative arrangements with farmers might help ensure adequate water in the South Platte through Denver.

“Denver Water is committed to work with other partners to enhance the rivers from which we receive water. Record drought years like this result in low river flows for all purposes,” Denver Water chief Jim Lochhead said.

But pollution runoff from lawns and industrial sites still reaches the water. Underwater algae is thickening along some stretches

“As the river flow drops, the sun is starting to bake the algae into a stinking mess,” said Gary Wockner, Colorado program director for the Clean Water Action advocacy group. “Our state and folks here in Denver have been doing a good job buying land and building parks and bike trails along rivers. But the next big step is to ensure healthy water quantity and quality in those rivers.”

Bruce Finley covers environment issues, the land air and water struggles shaping Colorado and the West. Finley grew up in Colorado, graduated from Stanford, then earned masters degrees in international relations as a Fulbright scholar in Britain and in journalism at Northwestern. He is also a lawyer and previously handled international news with on-site reporting in 40 countries.

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